The benefits of acupuncture for people suffering from chronic pain have been well-documented. Now, a research study co-funded by the Alberta Cancer Foundation wants to know if acupuncture performed in a group setting works as well as individual treatments for targeting cancer-related pain.

Acupuncture is an ancient form of traditional Chinese medicine that utilizes stimulation of acupuncture points to affect the physiology of the body, explains Dr. Jessa Landmann, a Calgary-based naturopathic doctor and co-investigator who is administering acupuncture treatments for the project.

According to Landmann, previous studies that analyzed patients’ blood before and after acupuncture treatments have demonstrated some of the benefits of acupuncture therapy.

“I think acupuncture is another one of those complementary therapies that have a growing evidence-base showing that it might help treat symptoms that patients have a real hard time with, and often there is no good treatment for,” says Dr. Linda Carlson, who is leading the group acupuncture study.

A professor in the Department of Oncology at the University of Calgary, and also the program director of the Integrative Oncology Program at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre, Carlson says that the strongest evidence for the use of acupuncture during...Read the full article by the Alberta Cance Foundation

Dr. Jessa Landmann is passionate about helping people living with cancer. From reducing the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation to guidance on eating a healthy, preventative diet, she can help at all stages of cancer. She is passionate about helping people living with cancer. From reducing the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation to guidance on eating a healthy, preventative diet, she can help at all stages of cancer.

100% of Dr. Landmann's patients state that a major problem with the health care system is the gap in care once conventional therapy has come to a close. There is very little guidance on how someone can proactively fight the disease and prevent recurrence and even less support with helping them to recover from the intense side effects of chemotherapy and radiation.

Her practice focus is what is called integrative oncology, which is a field of medicine that focuses on the modern practice of medicine while acknowledging the wisdom of traditional healing.

She received the Bachelor of Science from the Univesity of Calgary and the Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine from the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine